Ag precipitation and optical behavior in Na2O-B2O3 glasses

Ag particles of different sizes in the nanometer range were produced in Na2O-B2O3 glasses containing Ag2O by the melt-quenching and heat-treatment method. The quenching rate was = 10(3) K s(-1) and the heat treatment was at 738 K for 2-300 h. The precipitation was dependent on diffusion limited growth. The optical absorption of Ag particles in the glasses was measured and correlated to the distribution of particle radii, The peak energy of the surface plasmon resonance was blue shifted and the width decreased with increasing average particle radius. These results are compared with previous data on similar systems. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.